Week 2 in Monrovia

Hello EVERYONE!!

1. So our car died last week... it was pretty fun being able to walk everywhere so now we just do it even though our car works haha

2. I am back to doing laundry at the laundry mat... not fun BUT we get to talk to a lot of people and tell them about the church so that part works out WONDERFUL!

3. Chloe and Clara are doing great! We had a lesson on Tuesday and Clara had a LOT of questions answered with the plan of salvation. It was pretty amazing. Her biggest realization was of the Godhead. How they are all 3 separate beings. It was like, "Oh yeah... that makes sense. I've felt the spirit before!" She was really happy about it. Then I went over with my mini missionary for the day and we set a baptismal date with Chloe for March 10th. She had told us Tuesday that next time she wanted to talk about what she needed to do to be baptized and so we did. Clara is really supportive of her and excited for it to. She even said, "Who knows. I might even jump on the bandwagon sometime." I hope so. She keeps telling me I have to come back and see them so we can hang out after my mission.

4. We got to do service at the Unity Center here in Monrovia. It is for people with low or no income to get food. They get a cart of food and we take it out to their car and load it for them. SO funny. One man that was there every time I walked by would say, "Oh girl you are beautiful. Oh. Girl. So beautiful" Lets just say AWKWARD! And then we were talking to a man about the church and he asked about what we did before the mission and I told him how I was student teaching 9-12 graders. He goes, "How? You look like a senior in High School." It was pretty funny. It that was all by 10:30am... great day.

5. Paula is still doing amazing! She is well on her way for March 11th. When we met this week she was telling us how she really liked the scripture in Alma 32:21 about faith. She just kept saying how beautiful it was and how it was so true. We talked about the restoration and the authority that was brought back. She was really attentive and accepted it.

6. The ward has given us a few names of people to check and we have officially checked them all. We have even already had a lesson with one of them. It has been fun to get to know the ward members and their reaction to sisters in the ward. We just keep hearing, "Oh we haven’t had sisters in so long! We are so happy you are here now!"

7. We set up a booth on Myrtle where this street fair is every week. Well we had a lot of people looking at us but we just realized today there is a spot for people of non profit to be. Sister Butler and I had an appointment at 7 so we left for about an hour and when we came back the elders told us they had a man come to them and tell them anti feelings. Poor elders. We are going to do it again this week so hopefully it goes better. And more missionaries so we can go walk and have some at the booth too.

8. We had mini missionaries are Saturday. SO fun! I was with Rachel Potter again. She was my first mini missionary every in the mission and we got to be together again a year later hahah We were able to set Chloe with her baptismal date, talked to a black J-Dub, a Russian Baptist with a HUGE Mercedes van with, "Where do you want to spend eternity? Heaven or Hell Your choice" plastered on the side of it, and we talked to a less active who was the nicest guy and being strong even though his family is not and apparently will not come back to church with him.

9. My favorite scripture this week… well it’s the book of Enos. Wow. I have read it a million times but I just need to be like him more hahaha I LOVE putting my name into verse 27. It becomes alive and real to me the promise that is given.

LOVE YOUA LL!!

Sister Arbogast

　

Hello from Monrovia!

Well hello everyone!! Here are the adventure for the past week!

1. Had a lesson with Chloe and her mom Clara. Chloe has been going to seminary this whole year and been going to church for about 2 years now and never met with missionaries... why? Couldn't tell ya hahaha But Sister Cornwall her seminary teacher invited her and we met at their home. Chloe is SO ready, her mom is just meeting so she will know what her daughter is learning. She is very supportive of her though which is great. She can see the change that the Gospel is bringing to Chloe's life.

2. Valentine’s Day!! I got my new companion! Her name is Sister Butler. She is from American Fork, Utah. She went to University of Utah for 2 years. She is the middle of two brothers. It was funny an elder reminded me it was Valentine’s day... my days are just dates and names now. Crazy.

3. We met with a lot of members this week and we are trying to get to know them and ask about anyone they know who needs a little extra visit. Many names are coming to us.

4. We had a training session with the trainers and trainees this week and during we had a break out session. Us trainers when to a question and answer type of this and WHOA! We got into a really deep discussion about Faith. At the end president just goes, "Can you feel it? The spirit is teaching us all and telling us the answers to the questions we haven't asked out loud." Every one of us raised our hand. It was awesome!

5. In a meeting with Paula one of our investigators, WoW! The youth are so much stronger. She is amazing! She is friends with president’s daughter. She has come to church and committed to be baptized on the 11th. We were able to meet with her mom as well this week. She knows her daughter is ready and wants to learn more too. She also wants her son who is at Weber in Utah to meet with missionaries too. Paula is doing great. She is up to 1 Nephi 10. Well that was on Saturday. She was at church on Sunday and really seemed to be talking to the other youth and seemed to enjoy it.

6. We had dinner with this pretty funny family. We were shown a video of when eh got his eyebrows waxed earlier that day lol SO funny! They are ward missionaries. We have heard from the Relief Society that they might need a little extra help to stay active. They like to pick and choose commandments to live apparently. We shall find out.

7. Favorite scripture this week... Alma 56:16-17. Not sure if I have shared this one before but I have been thinking about it a lot since I don't want to be "conquered" by an area. I want to be able to show the people here what the gospel is all about and the blessings that can come to them.

I miss and LOVE you all!!

Sister Arbogast

Only 12 weeks left!

Hello!!! Umm this week was crazy and it is about to get even more crazy!

1. On Monday we had a "sisters" hike with our mission presidents wife and all the sisters. We went to this canyon in Monrovia which is really close to Pasadena. We were all told it was really flat... it wasn't flat. BUT it was fun!! There was a baby waterfall at the end of it. not so much worth it but oh well!

2. We went to play with a bunch of other missionaries. While we were there I was talking to a few different missionaries and I was thinking about how these friends will forever be my friends. We are all going through something and are learning so much being missionaries. it brings me comfort to know I'm not the only one.

3. I got to meet with president this week and it was AMAZING! I just had somethings I needed to talk to him about. He just kept saying "Be candid with me. Tell me how it is." So I did ahhaha I really felt SO much better after I was able to talk to him. He gave me a wonderful blessing. I LOVE the priesthood. I think every time I receive a blessing, all the wonderful feelings of true, peace and love come back to me from past times. SUCH a great feeling.

4. We went to a members for dinner... She had a non member there and we were able to have a lesson on the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him. We even set up a return appointment for the next Monday. We goes currently to a Christian church.  The member is a running partner and he is also a math tutor to her daughter. I hope tonight goes well!

5. I went on exchanges to Diamond Bar this week with Sister Mello. She is so sweet. The area was super slow but she wants to do more and is willing to try new things. The area needs something new.

6. I went to the Zone Leader council and wow! President said there was going to be a LOT of changes in leadership this transfer. A lot of the training was also on change and how its okay to change and how we need to focus on the doctrine of Christ. It was REALLY good!

7. When we met with the Vasquez this week... WHOA! We had a lesson on the priesthood and he FINALLY really understood the importance of it and how much he wants to baptize his sons. He even told us what things he was really insecure about with coming back to church. I'm really sad to be leaving him.

8. Moises had a GRETA lesson on the plan of Salvation and a tour of the chapel. He is coming along and FINALLY came to church! We had been trying to get him there for forever now and he finally came! He was just starting to open up to me too. But he is in good hands.

9. Can you tell I'm leaving Pasadena? We got a transfer call and I will now be in the Monrovia ward... just down the road from here. Another kicker is ready?! I'm training again. The only sister coming in tomorrow for English work is Sister Butler from American Fork, Utah. We went over today to clean the apartment that we are going to be living in from the elders... I shouldn't be surprised but DANG! It was NASTY!! This shall be interesting in either of us knowing no one and getting to work. But I'm excited!

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Sister Arbogast

Getting Hit on at the Gas Station

Alrighty!! Here we go...

1. SO this week wasn't the most exciting but on Monday we went to go get gas for the car and we went in to get the receipt and this guy Phil hit on us. We got free drinks out of it so it was fun lol

2. Liz is doing good. We had a dinner and lesson with her and her family. Her daughter who is a member was there and her husband. Her husband is very NOT interested but is okay with her learning. Our stake president is going to help us and invited them over to have a lesson at their house. We shall see how it turns out.

3. We had Zone Conference and pretty much AWESOME! It was a recap of the things that we learned at the zone leader council but it was still great. Main thing that I learned it to Be the Light. Love it!

4. Got to go on exchanges with Sister Pack and WOW! It was pretty amazing! We stayed up pretty late and talked BUT it was really needed for both of us to be honest.

5. We had a great lesson with Cesar and talked about the second coming. Pretty much we need to just be ready for it tomorrow but live like it isn't for forever.

6. Favorite scripture this week was Moroni 10:32. It talks about grace and we are SOO blessed!! LOVE IT!

I know its short BUT I still Love you!!!

Sister Arbogast

Only 99 Days Left!

Well hello from SUNNY California!! Here are the happenings from the week!

1. We went to Goodwill last week and I think I am now loving thrift stores. All of the sudden I see them EVERYWHERE we go and I have been here for 6 months... hahah

2. Our investigator Malachi accepted a baptismal date. He actually brought it up. He is 11 and so in touch with the spirit. And how he has responsibilities here on earth.

3. We went to a part member families this week. LOVE them! The non member husband said we could come back because it was us. His wife was telling us that he has has lesson before and been to church just not ever happened. We shall see. He was pretty open with us and set a return appointment.

4. We got lemon seeds to grow... they aren't growing. BUT We got lemons from a member and made lemonade... SO good!

5. We were out contacting one day and we ran into these 3 ladies. We got into a really nice talk about Jesus Christ and how we have to found and accept him. They weren't interested in learning BUT we offered service and it just so happens two of them are doing work in their homes! HOPEFULLY we can get in and help them feel of the Spirit and want to learn more :]

6. We went to a members home whose son just came off his mission. This father is NOT active and tried to talk him out of going on his mission. We were there when he got released. Wow. The stake president asked him for his name tags. I was about to cry!! My tag is little and just a black thing I clip on every morning... but not. It is so much more. I'm different. And I was thinking about how blessed I am to be here and get to wer this little black tag. I LOVE it!!

7. We FINALLY got to meet with a couple that hasn't been to church in a LONG time. Found out that he is a return missionary and now agnostic and she hasn't been to church but wants to come. Very interesting how that works out. But she wants us to come back. I think she can feel the void in her life without the gospel and gave us the biggest hug when we left. We shared a scripture about ow the spirit wont lie to us... I know she was listening, hopefully he was too.

8. Beverly a less active we teach has not been to church in YEARS and she came on Sunday!!! It was HUGE!!! She came, participated and everything. She told us that her biggest thing was that she has a really close connection with these two families and they ended up moving and she had no one to connect with. She didn't put the effort in BUT hopefully she enjoyed meeting people and we shall see if she will come back next week.

9. Sister Harker and I were welcoming people to church when we met a man who was visiting from Fuller Seminary College. He was there for a class assignment. It was a PERFECT day to come! We had a recent convert and a return missionary speaking. The whole time we were in Sacrament meeting he was nodding and writing a few notes. One of his notes he had written was "children part of service" In my head I was thinking, well duh! Oh well. When we explained to him that no one was paid he was also very shocked. He was able to come to Gospel principles and he was participating and reading scriptures with us... he had said earlier he would stay then he ended up leaving after gospel principles. He was feeling the spirit. Love it!

10. "The Boys" were born!! I am a proud auntie for the 3rd time on the mission and for the 14th time in my life... how lucky am I?!?

11. Favorite scripture this week... well it is a few. I have been studying the words cheer, cheerful, things like that. One of my goals this week was to be happy. Not just look happy but feel happy. Yes, life is hard but there are so many happy and cheerful things we could focus on. SO. Mosiah 24:15 Tells us to submit cheerfully and patiently to the will of the Lord. Not our will, the Lords. Then in 2 Corinthians 9:7 It tell us that Good loves a cheerful giver. Then in D&C 78:18 (new fav) Ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.... riches of eternity are yours. We can not bear all things... especially if we try to do it alone! Not happening. But if we let him lead us we can have the riches of eternity... LOVE that blessing. We need to be happy. I know when we teach lessons it is a message of JOY!  Be happy. Life is hard but good.

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Sister Arbogast

Howdy!

The week has been good! Busy and so happy about that!

1. We got lemon seeds in red plastic cups... they were from our lesson on Faith. So we now we also say we have to water our faith. I hope they actually sprout up... I would LOVE a lemon tree!!

2. We had some GREAT lessons this week... with Lydia we talked about Agency and how if we don't know where we want or where we are going, it doesn't matter what we do or path we take. She even had her cousin in town and we read from the Book of Mormon with her too. We read about how the scriptures can bring comfort and closer to Heavenly Father. Our member with us bared really strong testimony and it finally seemed to click with her.

3. One of our new investigators Liz is great. One of her daughters is in a different stake in the area and her grandson keeps teaching her about the church. She loves the strength of youth pamphlet and we watched the Restoration DVD with her this week. She says that she thinks it could totally happen with Joseph Smith seeing God and Jesus Christ. She "goes" to another church. I asked her conversion and she said she hasn't had one. We can tell that she is intrigued by her grandson and all she keeps telling us is how amazed she is at our dedication at such a young age. We were able to bear testimony to her and it was AWESOME! A little side note on her... the Movies risky business, cheaper by the dozen and some Audi commercial from Christmas apparently where he brings gifts inside and the family goes and takes his car... well they were all filmed in her house... No big! hahahaha AND when I met her the first time I was with Sister Foster... she told us this week she was agonizing over taking up our offer on giving service... she said, "I didn't want the other one here. She is too mousy. She just wouldn't be able to cut it here. I even was thinking if there was a way I could have you come and not her."

4. We got to take Jerry on a tour of the chapel this week and he said he could feel what we were saying could be right but he needed to ask and read. His wife is not interested but he is. Its AWESOME!

5. Orrillius doesn't want to meet with us anymore. Which I was sad about but relived about too. He isn't ready. He said some hurtful things which I was more worried about with my companion BUT we cant force him and we will keep going :]

6. Decora spoke more than EVER in a lesson this week on the 10 commandments... it was amazing! She was all into learning the little hand signs and teaching them back to us. She is progressing for sure.

7. President Becerra came to our district meeting this week and role played with Sister Harker and I. He is a great man! He is so involved with us missionaries and going to lessons with the elders. We might even be going to play basketball with him today... he is awesome.

8. People are starting to ask how long I have been in the ward now since it has been a while. Even people from the other ward we share the building with are asking... its kind of funny hhahaha

8. My favorite scripture this week came from preparing a lesson for a less active on hoe we can study the scriptures. It is in Doctrine and Covenants 131:6-It says that we can NOT be saved in ignorance. I LOVE this. We cant have any excuses of "I didn't know." We can lie to the Lord... He knows. And I have to think about that when people reject our messages even after they have had the spirit testify to them. I'm doing my part, spirit has done his part now its their turn.

Love you all!!

Sister Arbogast

Happenings from the week...

Well... here we go again! Another weekly update for you lovely people!

1. Last Monday we went bowling and it was AWESOME!! It was a zone activity and I was hoping to not make too much of a fool while there. First person up.. me. What happens? STRIKE! Oh yeah!! Only happened one other time and it was a spare from the gutter I did before hahah BUT I broke 100... I got 101! Oh yeah! Thank you online bowling classes :]

2. Our presidents wife came out with us to a couple lessons on Monday night. She came to an FHE we were having with couple who is trying to get back into the swing of church and want to start good habits now while their daughter is young.

3. She also came with us to the Stevens. They are a mother and son who call themselves active but never come to church. I think the whole 6 months I have been here I have seen them at church maybe 4 times and one of the times her son was speaking. We taught about agency and how we have to choose the right. Simple as that. We went over a talk from President Monson, The Three R's of Choice. It was really good. Part of me thinks that Sister Stevens just likes to talk. We shall see.

4. We did some service for the Stevens too... well mainly her non member dad. We cut some trees down and pushed/broke down a gazebo. Kind of fun actually :]

5. Since President gave me the sister specialist (sister zone leader) title I got to go to a REALLY amazing training this week! It was on Wednesday and it was all the zone leaders, president and his wife, and two people from SLC in the missionary department for the church. It was really good for me to just soak in everything. Main two things I got was to be personal to the people we are teaching-DUH! But it just really hit me today. Then the next thing was a quote one of the people from SLC said, )teach your purpose, with purpose, on purpose" We have our purpose that Preach My Gospel tells us and making sure we do all three things with it. I got home and wrote it out on colored paper and put it on our wall by our desks. President said we will be going to the trainings, training the sisters, and going on exchanges. Shall be interesting what happens.

6. With our recent convert Cesar we went over the home teaching message for the month, the Abundant life. We were able to read from it and apply the principle to us and how we need to have a better attitude, belief in ourselves and courage. I think he needed it this week too. He was a little down about something. She is still doing great! He has been passing the sacrament and loving his calling as a primary teacher.

7. We have a new investigator, Linda. She is REALLY interested in the Relief Society and the sisterhood of it. We were able to tell her our expectations and really help her feel the love of her heavenly Father. She came on a tour with us and we brought the Relief Society president. She wasn't able to come to church this past Sunday but she said next she would. I hope so. Everything she said she is looking for is within the gospel. Now we get to teach her about it :]

8. Decora come to church!! We went over to have a lesson with her grandma who is already a member and she stayed and said the opening prayer and actually talked when we asked questions... this was HUGE for her. She got a little turned off for a while I think while her brother and his friend were there... but she seems to be back on track.

9. Went to Chinatown yesterday... same as it always is BUT we rode the Metro and it was FUN! We went with a group of missionaries. My companion had never been and wanted to go so bad so we went. She wants to go again too... I dont know about that ahahhaah We will see.

10. My favorite thing that I learned from studies this week was how important questions are. During our district meeting when we talked about questions and then asked a few and critiqued them with each other I was really aware of the importance of how I word my questions and why I ask what I do. I started to think about the questions that I ask myself and how they can be answered with the gospel and so can everyone elses... not just mine. The gospel is so true. I LOVE it!

LOVE YOU!!

Sister Arbogast